It's all over. 190 all out in 40 overs. Cracking performance. But for some uncharacteristically pants fielding from Pietersen it could have been over sooner too, although that's being a bit churlish to the new boy. Let's hope England can play with more composure, let's hope the Aussies get less out of the pitch than we did. I predict we won't and they won't. It is the Ashes at Lords, after all. Fatalism is standard issue for all England fans.
shouldn't there be an [R] in the thread title. 190 all out it'll be interesting to see how England bats. KP dropped two balls, might just be nerves. hopefully he's not nervous in the crease.
Blue sky round here now! Should be easier conditions for the English batsmen. I said in my first post of the day that it looked like a day to bowl first if you won the toss and the England bowlers have proved it. We really need the batsmen to be miserly with their wickets now. After bowling the Aussies out quickly we have loads of time to build a score and put them under pressure in their second innings.
Ten without loss at tea. The England openers seem to be doing the right thing fromt he internet commentary, looking to just stay in and be patient. Scoring quickly matters not at this stage.
190 all out... Some great bowling by Harmison... Hayden and Ponting got blasted some wayward balls... Great so far. Let's hope they start batting well and make a hard target for the Aussies to reach. Looking good so far. Looking good.
The Sun is really coming out as well. Hehe. I guess it's true what they say: God is an Englishman. Maybe it's just years of watching England teams for so long but I just can't help feeling that we're gonna fluff it.
England are 18 for 3 after 13 overs. So much for building an innings! Bell and Pietersen are at the crease now.
And there's another one! Flintock is gone! England 21-5... this is a superlative effort, even for McGrath''s reputation.
Flintoff. Yeah. It's getting proper depressing now. This will all be over by Sunday lunch at this rate.
You're right, Matt; my bad, with my late-night eyes. Full props, however, to McGrath. Bloody sensational bowling. Now Gillespie's bowling for the Aussies, with a lofty standard to follow.
Ha! What a bizzare first day!!! England have let a golden opportunity of being able to control Australia slip by.
Yep... Shortish ball down the legside by Lee. Giles went to hook (why?) on the backfoot, gloved it to Gilchrist (who took the catch and was given out by the umpire). Though, Giles had, infact, walked back to far in playing the shot and knocked back his off stump with his right leg. Was a bizzare last ball of the day. Australia 190 (Langer 40, Harmison 5-43) England 7-92 (Jones 30, McGrath 5-11) Scores here: http://ls.cricket.com.au/HomeFullScorecard2c9d1c11-bb51-4436-9293-7481560c79fd.html
I think England were moreso dazed when they knocked over the Aussies for 190. Coming out to bat, they probably felt on top of the world. At tea, things were looking moderate at 0-10. McGrath was the killer. He snagged 5-2 in 30-odd balls following the tea interval. Went from 0-11 to 5-21. In the end, keeper G Jones put on a classy 50+ stand Pieterson. Hoggard will come out to bat first tomorrow morning. With Pieterson still there, England will still be eying off at least 150, possibly even a lead. Though, Giles wicket on the final ball of the day proved to be very painful.
Exactly. However, the pitch was always going to play up. McGrath was an absolute killer! Finished with 5-20 something at the close of play. English will be kicking themselves. 98-run deficit to reel in with only three first innings wickets in hand.